INDIANAPOLIS -- Jaylen Warren emerged as the legitimate No. 2 back the Steelers have needed for a long time. However, they won't have him in the lineup this week.
Warren and Ahkello Witherspoon, both nursing hamstring injuries, have been ruled out for the Steelers' Monday Night matchup with the Colts.
Warren suffered his injury in the first quarter of the Week 11 loss to the Bengals while Witherspoon has only played one game since initially injuring his hamstring in Week 3.
While Najee Harris has been the driving force of the Steelers' improved running attack over the past two weeks, Warren's increased role in the offense has allowed Harris to stay fresh and be more efficient in the snaps he's been given. Now, the Colts can solely prepare for Harris.
Benny Snell Jr. will step in Warren's place as Harris' backup Monday night.
In additional injury news, Robert Spillane suffered a back injury during the week and has been limited in practice since Friday. He's listed as questionable and will get another evaluation of the injury before the team travels to Indianapolis on Sunday.
Miles Boykin suffered an oblique injury against the Bengals and was unable to return. He missed practice Thursday and was limited Friday and Saturday. Boykin is also listed as questionable.
In some good news for the running game, Mason Cole (foot) and James Daniels (groin) will be available against the Colts despite being on the injury report this week. Cole started the week with a mid-foot injury that ended his game early in Week 11, and was wearing a walking boot around the team's facility until joining practice Friday as a limited participant. Cole ended the week as a full participant.
Daniels popped up on the team's injury report Friday, but fully participated Saturday and, like Cole, does not have an injury designation.
Every other Steeler from the injury report -- T.J. Watt (vet rest), Cam Heyward (vet rest), Larry Ogunjobi (vet rest/toe) and Connor Heyward (sick) -- does not have an injury designation and is fully cleared to play Monday night.
